1. science
2. ecology
3. waste management
4. recycling

2015 VOLUME 2
®
GUIDE
Your Boulder County Resource
for Living a Sustainable,
Zero Waste Lifestyle
Recycle and Compost
Pull-Out Guides
Fight Climate Change
Easy Ways to Practice Zero Waste
Top 5 Products
to Always Refuse
Is it Compostable?
Products Guide
And much more…
All guides available
in printable form online
at ecocycle.org!
ecocycle.org
•
303.444.6634
Eco-Cycle’s mission is to identify, explore
and demonstrate the emerging frontiers
of sustainable resource management and
climate change solutions through the
concepts and practices of Zero Waste. We
believe in individual and community action
to transform society’s throw-away ethic into
environmentally-responsible stewardship.
Table of Contents
Why Zero Waste?
3
Top 5 Things to
Refuse, Reduce, Reuse
4
Recycling Guidelines
6
Recycling Contaminants
to Keep Out of Your Bin 7
Recycling Unusual Materials
at the CHaRM
8
Recycling and Zero Waste Facilities 10
Boulder Recycle Row
11
Longmont Waste Diversion Center 11
Why Recycle?
12
What Happens to my Recyclables? 13
Curbside Composting Guidelines
14
3 Reasons to Compost
15
Compost Updates
15
Is it Compostable?
Compostable Product Guidelines 16
Landfill/Trash Guidelines
17
HELLO FROM OUR DIRECTOR
Hello, Eco-Cyclers and our
Boulder County community!
Welcome to our second ever Eco-Cycle
Guide, designed to give you the “what,
where, why and how” of Zero Waste in
Boulder County. We hope you enjoy it and
find everything you need to connect you
to the services, programs and facilities that
will help you lead a Zero Waste lifestyle. As
a community, we can reach our collective
goal of reducing our impact on the climate
and on the planet’s finite natural resources.
I’ve only been at the helm as Eco-Cycle’s Executive Director
since January 2014, but I am grateful to be part of this hopeful,
collaborative, inspiring movement we call Zero Waste. I come
from a background of conservation, having served for many
years as the Central Rockies Regional Director at The Wilderness
Society. I am thrilled by the potential we have at Eco-Cycle and
in our community to address some of the greatest problems
facing humanity—climate change, resource depletion and social
injustices resulting from resource scarcities.
In 2010, Newsweek magazine featured Eco-Cycle’s work and
Zero Waste as the “#1 fix for the planet.” We’re continuing
Eco-Cycle’s tradition of breaking new ground in this movement,
both locally and globally, and doing it with the help of
hundreds of volunteers and supporters and by collaborating
with our many partners in businesses, schools, neighborhoods
and local government.
Zero Waste is a culture shift that offers hope in these times of
dwindling natural resources, booming population growth and
climate change. Our work is the right work at
the right time. Together, we can create a model
to demonstrate how every sector in our society
can thrive together and create a healthy,
sustainable future.
Yours for sustainability,
FAQs
18
Thank You to Our Sponsors
19
The Eco-Cycle® Guide is printed on 50% post-consumer
recycled paper with non-VOC soybean-based inks. It is
printed using a commercial cold-web press, which is
less energy- and ink-intensive than the processes used
to print glossy magazines.
The Eco-Cycle® Guide is distributed primarily by
volunteers in Eco-Cycle's Network. If you wish to
receive this publication at your home, call or email us
or subscribe online at ecocycle.org. To help us get this
information to all your neighbors, call us to join the
Eco-Network at 303.444.6634.
2
Eco-Cycle Guide 2015 • ecocycle.org • 303.444.6634
Suzanne (“Zan”) Jones
P.O. Box 19006
Boulder, CO 80308
Phone: 303.444.6634
Fax: 303.444.6647
En Español: 303.243.5820
web: ecocycle.org
email: recycle@ecocycle.org
Eco-Cycle is a Colorado non-profit
organization and is tax-exempt
under IRS Code 501 (c) (3).
© Copyright 2014 Eco-Cycle, Inc. All Rights Reserved
No part of this publication may be transmitted or reproduced in any form without the
expressed permission of the publisher.
Refuse
Compost
Reuse
WHY ZERO WASTE?
Reduce
Redesign
1 planet, 7 billion people,
billions of other species,
social justice, and...
A Zero Waste System
is cyclical, like in nature
The survival of seven billion people
and untold numbers of other species
is dependent upon this ONE planet
and its finite resources. Yet we are
consuming resources at a faster rate
than ever—if everyone on the globe
consumed resources at the rate we do
in the U.S., we’d need five planets to keep up. Dwindling resources means
lost habitat and social conflicts over what’s left.
...the greatest challenge ever faced: climate change.
Our wasteful, polluting and consuming practices significantly contribute to
climate change. The system of how we produce, ship, consume, and dispose
of goods and food accounts for 42% of our greenhouse gas emissions. That’s
almost half the problem.
The good news
We have the choice to do something about it. We can prevent greenhouse
gas emissions and resource depletion TODAY by refusing wasteful products,
reducing, reusing, recycling, composting and practicing Zero Waste solutions.
Creating a turning point in history for our future and that of our planet can
begin with an act as simple as choosing a recycling bin over the trash can.
Around the world and here locally, our communities are striving to turn the
tide on our resource use and its impacts by creating new rules, systems and
programs to support Zero Waste. We’ve created this guide to make it easier
for us all to make a difference.
Tools for you at ecocycle.org
“WHAT GOES WHERE?”
A-Z Recycling Guide:
Learn how and where to
recycle more than 200 items
in Boulder County.
Recycle
It redesigns our systems and
resource use to be more
sustainable and socially-just and
also does two fundamental things:
• Products are designed to use
fewer resources, to be non-toxic,
and to ultimately be reused,
recycled or composted.
• Discards are captured and
replace natural resources as the
feedstock to make new products,
creating far less pollution and
feeding the local economy.
Zero Waste is one of
the quickest and easiest
ways to address climate
change and build healthy
communities.
USE this guide. Share this
guide. Join our communitywide Zero Waste efforts to
protect our climate, our air, our
water, our health and our jobs.
Follow us for even more eco-goodies!
facebook.com/ecocycle.zerowaste
@ecocycle
youtube.com/ecocyclemedia
Eco-Cycle Guide 2015 • ecocycle.org • 303.444.6634
3
REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE
Before we recycle or compost, there’s a lot we can do to minimize or even avoid
our impact on the climate if we refuse wasteful products.
TOP 5 THINGS TO
REFUSE AND REDUCE:
INSTEAD, REUSE WITH
OUR TOP 5 “MUST HAVES:”
Paper Coffee Cups
Reusable Coffee Mugs
They’re almost always made from
trees, bleached with chlorine,
and emit greenhouse gases
when thrown in a landfill. They
also can’t be recycled!
Stainless steel and porcelain mugs
won’t leach potentially harmful
chemicals into your drinks.
1
Reusable
Coffee Mugs
Paper Coffee
Cups
Polystyrene (aka Styrofoam)
To-Go Containers and Cups
Sturdy and Safe Food Containers
Their basic component, styrene,
is a possible human carcinogen
that can leach from containers
into your food. It can’t be
recycled and never biodegrades.
Take them with you for lunch or
to restaurants. Avoid any plastic
containers with a #3 (PVC) or #6
(polystyrene) as these are toxic
plastics.
2
Sturdy and
Safe Food
Containers
StyrofoamTo-Go
Containers and
Cups
Bottled Water
Plastic water bottles are
recyclable, but they are
extremely resource intensive to
make. In the U.S., we consume
half a BILLION bottles of water
each week, requiring more than
17 million barrels of oil per year
to produce them.
4
Reusable Water Bottles
Fill your own bottles with tap
water (filtered if you prefer) to
easily avoid loads of unnecessary
waste. Look for labeling to ensure
your reusable bottle is free of the
hormone-disrupting chemical
Bisphenol A (BPA).
3
Bottled
Water
Eco-Cycle Guide 2015 • ecocycle.org • 303.444.6634
Reusable
Water Bottles
REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE
When we reuse, we don’t have to destroy natural resources or create
greenhouse gas emissions to make new stuff.
TOP 5 THINGS TO
REFUSE AND REDUCE:
INSTEAD, REUSE WITH
OUR TOP 5 “MUST HAVES:”
Plastic and Paper Shopping Bags
Yes, they’re recyclable, but
wasteful. Paper bags contribute
to deforestation and use more
energy and create more water
pollution during production
than plastic bags. Plastic bags are
made from non-renewable fossil
fuels, they don’t decompose,
and they pose a threat to
wildlife and ecosystems.
Reusable Bags
4
Plastic and Paper
Shopping Bags
Plastic Utensils, Single-Use
Chopsticks and Paper Napkins
An estimated 40 BILLION
non-recyclable, petroleum-based
plastic forks, spoons and knives
are used every year in the
U.S. alone. Single-use paper
napkins and wooden chopsticks
deplete our forests.
Reusable
Bags
Durable Utensils
and Cloth Napkins
5
Plastic Utensils,
Single-Use
Chopsticks and
Paper Napkins
MORE GREAT WAYS TO REFUSE AND REDUCE
BEFORE YOU RECYCLE OR COMPOST.
1. Stop Junk Mail, don’t just recycle it:
ecocycle.org/junkmail
2. Clean without the toxins:
ecocycle.org/ecoliving
3. Pack a waste-free lunch:
ecocycle.org/ecoliving
We recommend bags that can
be collapsed and stored in their
own tiny stuff sack. Keep them in
your pack/purse and you’ll never
forget to BYOB(ag) again. You
can purchase our favorite (with
Eco-Cycle on it) at ecocycle.org/
ecostore.
Durable
Utensils and
Cloth Napkins
Keep a pair of reusable utensils
(and chopsticks) wrapped in a
reusable napkin in your bag or
your glove box. You'll be surprised
at how many disposables you'll
avoid when eating on-the-go.
MORE GREAT WAYS TO REUSE BEFORE YOU
RECYCLE OR COMPOST.
1. Tour de Thrift; Maps to Boulder’s and
Longmont’s dozens of thrift stores for clothing,
furniture, books and more: ecocycle.org/reuse
2. ReSource: Center for ReSource Conservation’s
architectural salvage and reclaimed building
materials and tool library: resourceyard.org
3. Swap and Share: ecocycle.org/share
Eco-Cycle Guide 2015 • ecocycle.org • 303.444.6634
5
Save
&
Post!
RECYCLE
PAPER & CARDBOARD
flatten cardboard
COMMINGLED CONTAINERS
EMPTY & RINSE, DO NOT FLATTEN
balled aluminum foil
2” or larger
PLASTIC BOTTLES, TUBS, JUGS & JARS
Attached plastic caps OK
on EMPTY plastic screw-top
bottles, jugs and jars!
place lids in trash
NEW: LARGE PLASTIC CONTAINERS
Attached lids OK
Throw away loose, flat lids
NO SMALL BERRY
CONTAINERS
®
When in doubt, give us a shout!
Eco-Cycle HOTLINE: 303.444.6634 • ecocycle.org • recycle@ecocycle.org
6
Eco-Cycle Guide 2015 • More info: A-Z Recycling Guide at ecocycle.org
© Copyright 2014 Eco-Cycle, Inc. All Rights Reserved
EMPTY & RINSE, DO NOT FLATTEN
RECYCLING BIN’S DIRTY DOZEN
Save
&
Post!
Please keep these materials OUT of the recycling bin.
5) plastic packaging
2) explosive or hazardous
materials like ammunition
and motor oil
6) shredded paper
10) ceramics, drinking
glasses, light bulbs
1) NO Syringes, Needles,
Sharps, any other kind of
Medical Waste or Diapers
2) NO Explosive or
Hazardous Materials such as
Ammunition, Motor Oil or
Solvents
3) NO Plastic Bags
They bind up sorting
equipment. INSTEAD:
Take clean, dry and empty
plastic bags to the CHaRM
(Center for Hard-to-Recycle
Materials — see pages 8-9)
or participating grocery
stores.
4) NO Food Waste
INSTEAD: Compost it — see
pages 14-15.
3) plastic bags
4) food waste
7) scrap metal 8) liquids in
containers
11) frozen food boxes
5) NO Plastic Packaging such
as Block Foam, Packing
Peanuts, Bubble Wrap,
Plastic Shrink Wrap or Film
INSTEAD: Take #6 white
block foam and bubble
wrap to the CHaRM — see
pages 8-9. Packing peanuts
are NOT accepted at the
CHaRM.
6) NO Shredded Paper
Shredded paper is too small
to sort — the pieces gum up
sorting equipment.
INSTEAD: Compost shredded
paper or recycle it in the bin
marked “Shredded Paper” at
the the Boulder County Recycling Center or Longmont
Waste Diversion Center.
9) non-recyclable
plastics
© Copyright 2014 Eco-Cycle, Inc. All Rights Reserved • www.ecocycle.org • 303-444-6634
1) syringes,
needles, sharps,
medical waste
12) flattened cans and containers
7) NO Scrap Metal
It damages sorting
equipment.
INSTEAD: Recycle scrap
metal items at the CHaRM
— see pages 8-9.
8) NO Liquids Left in
Aerosol Cans or Containers
The liquids in aerosol
cans can cause a harmful
explosion.
9) NO Non-Recyclable
Plastics like Styrofoam®,
Plastic Cups No stable
markets exist to
remanufacture these
materials into new items.
303.444.6634 • ecocycle.org • recycle@ecocycle.org
10) NO Ceramics, Drinking
Glasses, Light Bulbs or
Other Non-Recyclable Glass
These create dangerous
flaws in new glass bottles.
11) NO Frozen Food Boxes
or Ice-Cream Containers
Their plastic coatings are not
recyclable.
12) NO Flattened Containers
Automated sorting
equipment separates
2-dimensional or “flat”
materials (paper) from
3-dimensional or “round”
materials (containers). The
equipment will accidentally
sort flattened containers as
paper.
®
Eco-Cycle Guide
Eco-Cycle
2015Guide
• More
2012info:
• www.ecocycle.org
A-Z Recycling Guide• at303-444-6634
ecocycle.org
7
Save
&
Post!
RECYCLE: CHaRM
®
/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials
6400 Arapahoe Rd. Boulder, co-located with ReSource—see Recycle Row map on p. 11
Mon – Sat: 9am – 5pm, Sun: 11am – 4pm · ecocycle.org · 303.444.6634
These materials are accepted at the CHaRM only. (fees apply)
Please do not put them in your curbside recycling bin.
TVs & Monitors
Copy Machines, Printers
Printer Cartridges
Office Phones
Mobile Phones, Tablets &
Cameras
Scrap Metal
White Block Foam Packaging
with a #6 (AKA Styrofoam®)
Cooking Oil
Bubble Wrap
Plastic Bags
Big #2 Plastics
Large Appliances
Small Appliances
Textiles
Paired Reusable Shoes
Porcelain Sinks and Toilets
Books & Manuals
Bikes & Bike Parts
Yoga Mats
Computers & Electronics
with a #2 or #4
& Fax Machines
We can pick these materials up from your business too!
303.444.6634 · businessrecycling@ecocycle.org
ecocycle.org/charm
8
see fees and
guidelines on
next page
Eco-Cycle Guide 2015 • ecocycle.org • 303.444.6634
(landline)
Funded in part by
City of Boulder trash
tax dollars.
RECYCLE: CHaRM
Guidelines and fees for materials on page 8
There is a $3 FACILITY FEE for every vehicle visiting the CHaRM to recycle materials. Exceptions are noted.*
ELECTRONICS
Samsung consumer electronics –
paid for by Samsung!
• No charge except for $3 facility
fee!
Audio Equipment
• Home Stereo Components: $8
• Car Stereos: $4
Computers & Equipment
• Monitors 19” or smaller: $10
• Monitors 20” to 34”: $15
• Towers/CPUs: $8
• Printers/scanners: $8
• Laptops: $4
• Uninterruptable Power Supply
(UPS): $8
• Large misc. computer
equipment: 30¢/lb.
• Keyboards, mice, cables
Printer Cartridges
• Ink jet and laser jet printer
cartridges
Copiers & Fax Machines
• Fax Machines: $8
• Desktop Copiers: $8
• Large Copiers (more than 40
lbs.): 30¢/lb.
Phones
• Mobile Phones
• Office Phones: $4
• Home Phones: $2
Small Electronic Items
• PDAs, iPods, iPads, tablets
• Digital Cameras: $2
• Video Game Systems: $4 – $8
(depending on size)
TVs, VCRs & DVD Players
• TVs 19” or smaller: $10
• TVs 20” to 34”: $15
• Consoles, TVs larger
than 34”: $30
• VCRs/DVD Players: $8
• Satellite Boxes: $8
SMALL PLASTIC
APPLIANCES
• Must have cords or batteries
• Handheld: $1
• Small (rice cooker size): $2
• Medium (vacuum size): $4
• Large (carpet steamer size): $8
• Extra-Large (20 lbs.+): 30¢/lb.
NO vacuum bags, glass (coffee pots,
blender carafes, etc.), or food/liquid
residue .
Have metal appliances? See scrap
metal listing.
HARD-TO-RECYCLE
PLASTICS
Plastic Bags & Plastic Bubble
Wrap
• Includes plastic shopping,
newspaper & ziplock bags
• Must be clean, dry and empty
NO moisture, receipts, or food
waste inside bags, black trash bags,
biodegradable plastic, tape,
packing peanuts or foam wrap
#6 White Block Foam
• #6 White block foam packaging and
rigid foam insulation only
• Businesses: $6 per cubic yard
NO packing peanuts, Styrofoam®
cups or “to-go” boxes, moisture or
tape
Big Durable #2 Plastics
• Large plastics marked with a #2 such
as plastic play structures, plastic lawn
furniture, plastic watering cans, clean
#2 plastic buckets (no residue), clean
plastic barrels, crates, rigid backyard
kiddie pools and plastic trash
containers with a #2.
Please remove non-plastic parts
(metal handles on buckets OK).
NO flower pots without a #2,
inflatable pools or other inflatable
plastics, water beds, chew toys, CD
jewel cases, small toys such as action
figures, etc.
MISCELLANEOUS
Bicycles & Bike Parts
• Any condition
• Includes integral parts such as seats,
pedals, etc., and metal accessories
such as baskets and Pannier racks
NO other accessories or sporting goods
Bicycle Tires & Inner Tubes
• Tires: $0.50 each
Books & Manuals
*No facility fee
• Computer and office manuals
• Hard-bound books and paperbacks
Concrete
• accepted accepted in small
quantities: less than small pickup
truck bed size: $.07/lb
NO metal or rocks; must be clean and
free of aggregate
Cooking Oil
NO motor oil or any oil used for
purposes other than cooking
Fire Extinguishers
• City of Boulder residents with ID: no
charge for this item
• Non-Boulder residents: $4
Porcelain Toilets, Sinks & Urinals
• Toilet, all non-porcelain materials
removed: $6.75/unit
• Toilet with non-porcelain materials
attached: $12.75/unit
• Sink or urinal: $3.50/unit; with
plumbing attached: $6.50/unit
• Ceramics by weight: $0.07/lb
Porcelain must be clean.
NO biohazards.
Reusable Shoes & Textiles
• Paired, reusable shoes (no mud)
• Clothing, sheets, blankets, towels
and fabrics
Items may be stained or ripped, but
must be clean. Must be 12” square
or larger.
NO bathing suits, socks, underwear,
rugs, carpet, curtains or pillows.
Yoga Mats
• Plastic foam, rubber foam and jute
yoga mats: $1
Mats must be clean.
NO badly soiled, stained or smelly
mats, tatami or grass mats, or rugs
or carpet.
PAPER SHREDDING
SERVICE
• Paper materials only
• $10 per file box (banker box) full
of paper
SCRAP METAL
*No facility fee
ITEMS THAT ARE AT LEAST 50%
METAL, including appliances
• Items without Freon®: NO CHARGE
• Items WITH Freon® (air conditioners,
refrigerators, freezers, humidifiers): $15
NO oil or fuel in motors, batteries, or
propane canisters.
OTHER MATERIALS
ACCEPTED AT THE CHARM
Single-Stream Recycling
*No facility fee
See guidelines on page 6.
Compostables
See guidelines on page 14.
Visit www.ecocycle.org/charm for
fees for dropping off compostable
materials.
WE RECYCLE
ELECTRONICS
RESPONSIBLY
Eco-Cycle has partnered with a
Certified e-Stewards Recycler to
process and recycle all electronic
equipment. e-Stewards is the world's
most rigorous environmental and
social justice criteria for recycling
e-scrap. Our materials are recycled
domestically and responsibly. Learn
more at www.ecocycle.org.
6400 Arapahoe Rd. Boulder • Mon – Sat: 9am – 5pm, Sun: 11am – 4pm • ecocycle.org/charm • 303.444.6634
Eco-Cycle Guide 2015 • ecocycle.org • 303.444.6634
9
BOULDER COUNTY RECYCLING AND
RESOURCE RECOVERY FACILITIES
Lyons
426 Railroad Ave.
East of Library
Open dawn to dusk
720.564.2220
Hwy. 6
6
. 119
Hwy
75th St.
So. Boulder Rd.
36
y.
Hw
Nederland Transfer Station
286 Ridge Rd.
E. of Peak-to-Peak Hwy
303.258.7878
At Trailhead
N. of Hwy. 52
on N. 79th St.
See Boulder
Recycle Row
Detail Map
next page
Hwy. 93
Recycling center
Yard Waste center
Superior Yard
Waste Recycling
2125 Honey Creek Lane
Open April–November
Call for details: 303.499.3675
Scrap metal
Nederland, Longmont & CHaRM only
We Can Do Better!
Every year in Boulder County we landfill 1,800,000 lbs
of aluminum containers and foil. That aluminum could have been
sold to recycling markets for over $1 million. Our local
community is literally throwing away money and our environment.
10
Eco-Cycle Guide 2015 • ecocycle.org • 303.444.6634
Longmont Waste & Tree
Limb Diversion Center
See Longmont Waste Diversion
Center next page.
140 Martin St.
Hours vary, 303.651.8416
Erie
1000 Briggs St.
Next to Public Works Building.
Open 24 hours, 303.926.2731
Arapahoe Ave.
Louisville Leaf Drop-Off Site at
Waste Water Treatment Plant
1601 Empire Road
Seasonal, call for details: 303.335.4780
Pine
KEY:
Martin
Niwot
State Hwy. 42
Ridge Rd.
Foothills Pkwy.
Peak to Peak
Hw
y.
r.
nD
nyo
Left Hand Ca
1st Ave.
19
y. 1
Hw
28th St.
James Canyon Dr.
Broadway
y. 7
Hw
63rd St.
State Hwy. 7 &
County Road 84
303-747-2107
Hwy. 287
Allenspark
Boulder County Waste Transfer
Station and Recycling Center
Hwy. 36
Louisville Branch Recycling Site
North side of Cemetery on Hwy. 42 & Empire Rd.
Call for hours: 303.335.4735
Facilities to help you practice Zero Waste
Visit zerowasteboulder.com
for more info.
1 ReSource
Accepts and sells new and used building materials in good shape.
6400 Arapahoe Ave. (co-located with Eco-Cycle CHaRM)
Mon–Sat 9–5, Sun 11–4 | resourceyard.org | 303.419.5418
Butte Mill Rd.
6
2 Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder CHaRM:
Yard & Wood Waste
Drop-Off Center
(Western Disposal)
Stazio
Ball Fields
Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials
Western Compost Site
“Recycle Row”
in Boulder
5
Hazardous Materials
Railroad Tr
acks Management Facility
6400 Arapahoe Rd. (co-located with ReSource)
Mon–Sat 9–5, Sun 11–4 | 303.444.6634 | ecocycle.org/charm
See pages 8–9 for more information.
3 Boulder County Recycling Center & Boulder Drop-off Center
See page 6 for materials accepted. Shredded Paper also accepted separately.
1901 63rd St. | Open 24 hours. | 720.564.2220
4
4 Boulder County Hazardous Materials Management Facility
3
Drop-off and reuse for hazardous materials such as paint and solvents.
1901 63rd St., west of (behind) Boulder County Recycling Center.
Wed–Sat, 8:30–4 | ecocycle.org/hazwaste | 720.564.2220
Recycling Center
Arapahoe Rd
63rd St.
d Tracks
RECYCLE ROW IN BOULDER
The City of Boulder is
going for Zero Waste!
5 Western Compost Site
2
1
Eco-Cycle
CHaRM
westerndisposal.com | 303.444.2037
6 Boulder County/City of Boulder Yard & Wood Waste
ReSource
Drop-off Center at Western Disposal
City of Boulder residents can drop off yard waste at no charge.
5880 Butte Mill Rd.
Mon–Fri, 7–5, Sat 7–2 | westerndisposal.com | 303.444.2037
LONGMONT WASTE DIVERSION CENTER
140 Martin St. 303.651.8416 | ci.longmont.co.us | Preguntas? Llame a 303.243.5820
Until April 18th 2015: Mon–Sat 7:30–4:45 | Closed Sundays, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving & Christmas
Please check in at the window and bring a current utility bill indicating the Waste Management fee.
Single-stream recycling—
accepted 24/7. See page 6.
ACCEPTED DURING
STAFFED HOURS ONLY:
Automotive and Rechargeable Batteries: Includes
motorcycle and boat batteries.
NO alkaline batteries.
Compostables Drop-Off:
See page 14 for guidelines.
Cooking Oil: Must be in seethrough plastic containers
(gallon milk jugs or the original plastic containers or box
your cooking oil comes in).
Motor Oil & Antifreeze:
Must be in separate seethrough one-gallon containers
(gallon milk jugs work best).
Must also be securely capped
and cannot be contaminated
with other fluids. Other
chemicals (paint, solvents,
etc.) are not accepted at
this site.
plastic, tape, packing peanuts
or foam wrap.
Scrap Metal: All types of
scrap metal.
NO fencing, pressurized
containers, electronics,
appliances containing Freon®.
Yard Waste: Tree limbs,
branches, bushes and unbagged leaves. Non-residents
and contractors will be
charged a fee.
NO sod, dirt, rock or split
rail fence material will be
accepted.
Shredded Paper:
NO bagged material.
Call for more information
about the City of Longmont’s:
Plastic Bags: Includes plastic
shopping and newspaper
bags. Must be clean, dry
and empty.
NO moisture, receipts, or
food waste inside bags, black
trash bags, biodegradable
NEW! #6 White Block Foam:
#6 White block foam packaging
and rigid foam insulation only.
NO packing peanuts, Styrofoam® cups or “to-go” boxes,
moisture or tape.
• paper shredding events
• hard-to-recycle collection
events for CHaRM items
• large bulky items collection
• Household Hazardous
Chemical drop-off days
Eco-Cycle Guide 2015 • ecocycle.org • 303.444.6634
11
WHY RECYCLE?
Let’s look at the choice between recycling and not, using an aluminum can:
What does it mean if we
toss this aluminum can?
What does it mean if we
recycle this aluminum can?
Some may think it’s no big deal
to toss a can. It doesn’t take up
much room in the landfill, right?
It’s not about the landfill. If we lose
aluminum to the landfill, we have to
replace it. Here’s what that entails:
We can fight climate change,
reduce water pollution, save
energy and prevent habitat
destruction for humans and
animals, all in one little can.
Here’s how:
• We need more bauxite ore,
BAUXITE
the raw material used to make
aluminum, so we have to go to
rainforests or other ecosystems
in places like Australia, China,
Brazil and Indonesia.
• We can prevent all of the
ALUMINUM
destruction and greenhouse gas
emissions of bauxite ore mining.
3
HOURS
• We can save 95% of the energy
it takes to make one can from
bauxite ore—enough energy to
power your TV for 3 hours.
• To produce just ONE ton of
aluminum, we’re going to have
to mine for 4-7 tons of bauxite.
• We need to strip mine the land,
CO2
removing the nutrient-rich top
soil to get to the ore just below
the surface.
• Where there is a forest, we need
to clear-cut it and burn the slash,
creating climate-changing carbon
dioxide.
60
DAYS
• Recycled aluminum is kept in
U.S., creating jobs.
• The can will be back on the shelf
in less than 60 days.
• We’d have no need to mine
for ore since aluminum can be
recycled indefinitely!
Not bad for one little can.
• The ecosystem and habitat are
destroyed. Without trees or
topsoil, major run-off occurs,
polluting nearby waterways.
• Native people who live in or
nearby the area are robbed
of critical natural resources,
including water, and are
potentially displaced.
• The ore is then shipped all the
way to Iceland for manufacture
before it’s shipped again to
distributors around the world.
12
Eco-Cycle Guide 2015 • ecocycle.org • 303.444.6634
And that’s just the story
behind an aluminum can.
Once you know what lies behind all
the products and packaging of our lives—the
paper, plastic, steel and glass—you realize how
important it is that we each choose the simple act
of recycling to do our part for the environment
and our economy.
WHAT HAPPENS TO MY RECYCLABLES
AFTER THEY ARE PICKED UP AT THE CURB?
Come see for yourself how it all works! Public tours of the Boulder
County Recycling Center are available. Call us at 303.444.6634,
or stop by during operating hours for a self-guided tour.
Most materials recycled in Boulder County are taken to the Boulder County Recycling Center (BCRC, pictured
above), owned by YOU, the public, and operated by Eco-Cycle. At the BCRC, Eco-Cycle sorts the materials, and
then sells them to manufacturing facilities for use in making new products.
Dozens of Eco-Cycle sorters are tasked with removing materials that will contaminate the recycling stream, such
as plastic bags and other non-recyclables. The cleaner the materials are when we receive them at the facility, the
more efficient and cost-effective this process. So it’s up to each of us to follow recycling guidelines correctly.
Here’s what becomes of each type of recyclable:
Glass: Glass containers are made into new bottles right
here in Colorado.
Cardboard, newspaper and mail: Paper
manufacturers in the U.S. can’t get enough recycled
paper. Paper is recycled into new paper products ranging
from paperboard and cardboard boxes to fine writing
paper.
Paper milk, juice and soup boxes: Eco-Cycle
helped create a domestic recycling market for these
products by working with the leading industries that use
them. Paper in paper cartons is used in many paper fiber
applications.
Aluminum: Aluminum containers and foil are a
valuable and highly-recyclable material. Aluminum cans
are made from at least 50% recycled content. It is much
more energy and resource-efficient for the industry
to use reclaimed aluminum. And it can be recycled
indefinitely!
Plastic bottles, tubs, jugs and jars: Much of our
plastics go domestically to the southeast U.S. Plastic
remanufacturers clean, wash and purify the plastic
containers and turn them into plastic flakes or pellets.
The flakes and pellets are then used by manufacturers to
make new products such as carpet, clothing, auto parts,
tennis balls, park benches and new bottles and jugs.
Recyclers of PET (primarily #1 water and soda bottles)
want much more material than they can get!
More online:
Watch a video of the
sorting process at
ecocycle.org/recycle
Steel cans: Steel cans and scrap metals are recycled
into all forms of steel products. Almost all metal
products in the U.S. now contain recycled content.
Eco-Cycle Guide 2015 • ecocycle.org • 303.444.6634
13
COMPOST
Save
&
Post!
COMPOSTABLE PAPER
dark &
brightcolored
paper
napkins, tissues & paper towels
greasy or waxed cardboard
FOODS & PLANTS
plant trimmings
SPECIALLY-DESIGNED COMPOSTABLE PRODUCTS
TRUST THESE
COMPOSTABLE
PRODUCT LABELS:
paper only, no
plastic coating
bagasse
PLEASE NO
NO PLASTIC
*SEE PAGES 8-9
*
NO PLASTICCOATED
PAPER; PLACE
THESE ITEMS
IN TRASH >>
®
When in doubt, give us a shout!
Eco-Cycle HOTLINE: 303.444.6634 • ecocycle.org • recycle@ecocycle.org
14
Eco-Cycle Guide 2015 • ecocycle.org • 303.444.6634
3 REASONS TO COMPOST
1 Composting prevents climate change.
When landfilled, paper, food and other biodegradable materials
create methane, a potent greenhouse gas that has 84 times more heattrapping power than CO2 (another significant greenhouse gas) over 20 years.
The good news: We can prevent those emissions from ever happening just
by composting at the curb or in our backyards.
2 Composting actively combats climate change.
When we increase the organic content in our soils, it actually enables
the soil to become a climate change fighter! The soil becomes a “carbon
sink,” capable of pulling CO2 from the atmosphere.
3 Composting builds healthy soils.
Across the globe, our soils are being depleted of healthy nutrients due
to many factors, such as fertilizers, pesticides, over-grazing and construction.
In fact, you could say that most aspects of modern civilization short-circuit
the natural life cycle of living things eventually dying, falling to the ground,
decomposing and becoming soil.
Compost is a natural soil amendment that mimics the natural cycle and puts
nutrients and healthy microbes back into the soil. This is important not just
for the sake of producing more and healthier food and reducing the need for
chemicals, but it’s also key to soil’s ability to sequester carbon and grow the
plants that produce the very air we breathe.
Doesn’t food just
biodegrade in the landfill?
Landfills are designed to
prevent water, oxygen and
sunlight from entering,
so while biodegradable
materials do break down,
they do so VERY slowly
and anaerobically (without
oxygen). In the absence
of oxygen, methane is
produced (see Reason #1).
That’s why it’s critical that
we keep biodegradable
materials (like paper, food
scraps and yard waste) out
of the landfill.
Keep it clean!
KEEP PLASTICS OUT! Do NOT put compost in plastic bags and be sure
that any product you place in the bin truly is compostable, and not
coated with plastic. See guidelines on page 16 to be sure the products
you purchase meet accepted standards for composting.
Composting program updates:
Unincorporated Boulder County, City of Boulder, and Louisville residents:
You can now include all meat, bones and dairy products in your
curbside compost collection cart.
elines,
onal guid
ore on
For additi
4. For m
1
e
g
a
p
munity,
refer to
your com t.
in
g
n
ti
s
s
compo
/compo
cycle.org
o
c
e
:
it
is
v
City of Lafayette residents within the service area (excluding HOAs):
Your curbside program starts in February 2015!
City of Longmont:
Compostables are accepted at the 140 Martin Street Waste
Diversion Center during staffed hours.
Eco-Cycle Guide 2015 • ecocycle.org • 303.444.6634
15
IS IT COMPOSTABLE?
Save
&
Post!
Here’s how to know which PRODUCTS are truly compostable in your curbside bin.

YES, IF IT’S A PAPER PRODUCT NOT LINED WITH PLASTIC.
Many foodservice paper products are lined with petroleum-based plastics that contaminate our soils when composted.

These paper products are free of
plastic and can be safely composted.
bagasse
These paper products are plasticcoated and go in the TRASH.
bagasse
paper only,
no plastic
coating
greasy
pizza
boxes
wax paper & wax paper
cups (wax will scrape off
with your fingernnail)

plastic-lined butcher
or deli paper
YES, IF IT’S A CERTIFIED COMPOSTABLE “PLASTIC.”
If it looks like it contains plastic, it must be a certified “bio-plastic” to be safe for soils.
These labels also mean certified compostable:
ASTM D6400
ASTM D6868
7
PLA
must
have
letters
PLA
These labels DO NOT mean
compostable.
MADE FROM PLANTS
MADE FROM PLANT STARCH
BIODEGRADABLE
OXO-DEGRADABLE
BIO
ECO-FRIENDLY
EARTH-FRIENDLY
MADE WITH RECYCLED CONTENT
GREEN
When in doubt, give us a shout!

© Copyright 2014 Eco-Cycle, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Products that appear to contain
plastic must be certified compostable
by BPI.
®
Find and puchase compostable products with our time-saving tools at www.ecocycle.org/compost
Eco-Cycle HOTLINE: 303.444.6634 • ecocycle.org • recycle@ecocycle.org
16
Eco-Cycle Guide 2015 • ecocycle.org • 303.444.6634
LANDFILL
These items have no recycling
markets and can’t be composted
either. See pages 4 - 5 for how to
avoid items like these in the first place.
Save
&
Post!
PLASTIC-COATED PAPER
NON-RECYCLABLE PLASTICS
WRAPPERS & FROZEN FOOD PACKAGING
PLEASE ALSO TRASH: FEMININE PRODUCTS, DIAPERS & OTHER BIOHAZARDS
WHY KEEP MATERIALS OUT OF THE LANDFILL?
The most common answer, “Because landfills are filling up,” is really the least of
the problems. The real reasons are because landfills:
1. Bury resources, money and jobs. Reaching a 75% recycling rate by 2030 would
create 2.3 million new jobs in the U.S.
2. Create pollution problems for future taxpayers. All landfill liners will break and leak
toxic leachate. How much does it cost to fix a leak under 100 million tons of garbage?
3. Contribute to climate change. Methane from landfills traps 84 times more heat
in our atmosphere than CO2 over the short term.
4. Destroy resources for future generations. In the past 50 years, humans
consumed more resources than were consumed in all previous history. There’s
simply more demand than supply for 7 billion people, and when materials that
could go back into the production cycle go to the landfill instead, we put more
pressure on the environment to make the goods we need. Incinerators that burn
waste are BAD news too (we don’t have any in CO). Learn why at ecocycle.org.
Eco-Cycle Guide 2015 • ecocycle.org • 303.444.6634
17
FAQs
How do I recycle batteries?
While alkaline batteries no longer contain mercury
and are allowed in the trash, some local retail stores
recycle alkaline batteries at no cost. Visit our A-Z
Recycling Guide at ecocycle.org/a-zguide for the
most up-to-date information on how to recycle these
and other types of batteries. And here’s a tip: Avoid
disposable batteries in the first place by choosing
rechargeable ones. It will save you money
in the long run!
How do I dispose of paints
and solvents?
Unwanted paint and other hazardous items can be
taken to the Boulder County Hazardous Materials
Management Facility (HMMF). Call 720.564.2251
for details. Empty metal paint cans (no need to rinse)
can be recycled as scrap metal at the EcoCycle CHaRM – see pages 8-9.
What about old medications?
This plastic has a recycling
symbol on it – can I recycle it?
Because it’s not thoroughly regulated, you can’t count
on the recycling symbol to let you know whether an
item is recyclable. Plus, different communities have
different guidelines. Here’s our litmus test for knowing
whether your plastic is recyclable in Boulder County:
If your plastic container is in the shape of a bottle,
tub, jug or jar, no matter what the number is, it can be
recycled in your single-stream recycling bin. We can’t
accept foam cups or containers (a.k.a. Styrofoam),
plastic bags (though these can be recycled at the
CHaRM or participating grocery stores), flimsy #1
cups, or #7 PLA cups and containers, which are made
from corn and are compostable. Flat lids, such as
margarine or yogurt lids, are not recyclable either.
See pages 6-7 for full guidelines.
1
7
Why can’t I recycle all plastics?
All plastics could be recycled if there were a market,
i.e. a manufacturer who would use them to make
products. There are some plastics that simply have
no buyer.
Do NOT flush your old or leftover pharmaceuticals
down the drain. Wastewater treatment plants
are not designed to remove these chemicals
and compounds, so this can have harmful
effects on our waterways and ecosystems. Go to
bouldercountywater.org and click on “Pharmaceutical
Disposal” to learn more, or follow these tips from
Boulder County Public Health:
• Pour liquid medications over cat litter or other
absorbent material and seal it in a plastic bag
before placing it in the trash.
• Fill pill containers with household glue, remove all
personal information, and place in the
trash after the glue has dried.
How do I recycle compact
fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)?
CFLs are far better than incandescent light bulbs,
but because they contain trace amounts of mercury
they should not be disposed of in the trash. Check
your hardware store for free CFL recycling programs
or find the most up-to-date info on our A-Z Recycling
Guide at ecocycle.org/a-zguide. You can
also recycle CFLs at the Boulder County
Hazardous Materials Management
Facility (see page 11).
Have a question? Contact us!
Eco-Cycle HOTLINE: M-F, 9-5 | 303.444.6634
ecocycle.org | recycle@ecocycle.org
18
Eco-Cycle Guide 2015 • ecocycle.org • 303.444.6634
|
En Español: 303.243.5820
THANK YOU
It is thanks to you, our community, that Eco-Cycle is able to do the work we’ve been doing since 1976. It is our
goal to work with local communities to demonstrate and share a new paradigm of Zero Waste in an effort to
address climate change, resource depletion and habitat loss. It is important, timely work, and we are deeply
grateful to our many donors and sponsors who partner with us to make this monumental societal change.
Founding Partner: Eco-Cycle
International Zero Waste Community
Solutions Portal
With deep gratitude, Eco-Cycle thanks WhiteWave Foods
for becoming our first founding partner in launching a
comprehensive online hub—the Zero Waste Community
Solutions Portal—to
empower individuals
and local communities
all over the world to
move forward on Zero
Waste solutions.
Eco-Cycle International Video
Production Sponsor
Thank you for your support in creating Zero Waste
Living Videos.
Friendship Fund
Eco-Cycle Guide and Eco-Cycle Holiday
Recycling Guide Sponsors
Thank you for your support in printing these guides.
City of Boulder
Boulder County
Eco-Cycle Event Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors for supporting our event to
honor our outgoing Executive Director Eric Lombardi and
welcome our incoming Director Suzanne Jones.
Presenting Sponsor:
Bay Window Catering
Contributing Sponsors:
Avalon Ballroom
Organic Vintners
Friend Sponsors:
Liquor Mart
Turquoise Mesa Winery
Zero Waste Event Sponsors
Thank you to our Zero Waste Event Sponsors who help us
reduce, reuse, recycle and compost at community events
around Boulder County.
Silver Level Sponsor:
A1 Organics
Bronze Level Sponsors:
1-800-Got-Junk?
Boulder Brands
Boulder Valley Credit Union
Sargent Bickham Lagudis
Green Star Schools Program Supporters
Thanks to our Green Star Schools funders for their
support of the program during the 2013-14 school year!
Boulder County
Boulder Valley School District
St. Vrain Valley School District
Ball Foundation
Red Empress Foundation
New Belgium Brewing
Google Community Grants Fund of the Tides Foundation
Jared Polis Foundation
The Community Foundation serving Boulder County
Elevations Credit Union
Longmont Community Foundation
Sprout Foundation
Patagonia Boulder
Red Apple Recycling
A1 Organics
And THANK YOU to the hundreds of
individuals who support Eco-Cycle
financially and with their volunteer time.
Support Eco-Cycle
To make a donation, sponsor an
Eco-Cycle program, or support the
organization in other ways, please
visit ecoycle.org/support.
Eco-Cycle Guide 2015 • ecocycle.org • 303.444.6634
19
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